Knight Associates Ltd

Born in Opotiki in 1986, young architect and interior designer Rufus Knight is the brains behind a string of beautiful boutique designs and ritzy apartment buildings around Auckland. He’s designed a variety of interiors from the highly anticipated apartment development ‘The International’, to the modernist and airy interiors for both Simon James concept stores.

His skill for translating branding ephemera into the spaces he designs for clients is clear, resulting in spaces that you want to be in. His clever design for cult womenswear brand Lonely in Ponsonby is the perfect example, with its sleek luxurious tactility and sand-blasted marble it carries a high-end art gallery feel. Juxtaposed with his Curior Noir project a few blocks down, with dramatic dark wood and dim lighting shows Knight’s ability to capture the quintessential feel reflective of the brand, rather than following a strict single aesthetic.

Knight Associates was opened in 2016 and focuses on interior architecture and design. Although the practice is still very young, they have already managed to take on projects with a number of leading brands including international skincare brand Aesop and fitness institution Les Mills.